Sri Lanka, China reiterate firm commitment to strengthen “all weather friendship”
- On March 6, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, concluded a successful two-day official visit to China on Saturday, 28th February.
Minister Samaraweera, accompanied by Si Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Ranjith Uyangoda, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, A.M.J. Sadiq and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, met with several top Chinese officials on the trip, such as the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Jiarui and the Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng. There were also extensive bilateral discussions held with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
This successful visit resulted in the reiteration of the importance of the bilateral relationship between China and Sri Lanka, referred to as an ‘all weather friendship’ by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the talks, who said that China will continue to promote strong relations with Sri Lanka.
Minister Samaraweera informed the Chinese side that it was the desire of the new Government of Sri Lanka to further fortify the existing robust bilateral relations and cooperative partnership, setting the foundation for the upcoming State Visit to China by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Samaraweera also briefed the Chinese side on recent developments in Sri Lanka, including the formation of the new Government, which he stated was a Government of national unity between the two major political parties in Sri Lanka. The Minister stated that both these parties had over the years, fostered Sri Lanka – China relations and as such, both the President and Prime Minister are keen to take forward the relationship to a new level of excellence
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